It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

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Summary: It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
Review: I purchased this book for my son's middle school library. After receiving it and skimming through some portions, I was disapointed in the use of profanity. I could not in good conscience give this book to the school so I returned it.

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Summary: Way to go Lance and KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!
Review: I must say after just finishing this book, I am seeing life with a new perspective. I have not had to fight the illness that Lance triumphed over with such dignity but I have had many obstacles in my life as well that I am not completely over. I also battle an illness though on a different level. From learning about Lance's childhood, his mother, his hometown, how he got into cycling, his battle and courageous win over the "Tour de Cancer" and the "Tour de France", I have the utmost respect for this great guy!! He is an angel himself showing us all the power of perserverance and the power of positive thinking. I am so happy to hear he is healthy, married and happy, a proud father, and most of all...a tremendous HUMAN BEING!!! Thank you for telling your story. That could not be easy to open up to the whole world on many private battles and it just goes to show what a fantastic guy you are! Lance, you are the GOLD!!!! You have earned it in every way! I recommend to anyone who wants to read a heartwarming story that will inspire you...

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Summary: A Story Of Inspiration
Review: For all you who read biographies, this should be on the top of your list. And for you who don't read biographies, this should also be on the top of your list. I have not had cancer, and I am not a cyclist, but this book certainly kept me interested. The book goes through his life from when he was a kid, to when he had cancer, all the way to being a father. Lance Armstrong had gone through chemo for cancer, and one would think his career as an athlete would be over. But he struggled through training and fought hard. It all paid off when he passed the finish line at the Tour de France as the winner. This is a book of true inspiration, and for one man, a journey back to life.

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Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This is an outstanding book, wonderfully moving and uplifting. Lance goes full tilt in everything and in this book he doesn't hold back - you live his journey and it is a harrowing, steadfast, intense, remarkable story. It is beautifully written -personal, honest, full of laughter and tears. I could not put it down and was astonished at his strength of spirit, intelligence, determination, and sheer chutzpah! He gives you such a sense of how to cope when the worst you can imagine happens and of the indomitability of the human spirit. I loved it - don't miss it.

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Summary: It's All about Lance
Review: This is the most amazing book! Not only do you get to know an incredible person (who modestly admits his own flaws and imperfections and denies that he is "hero material"), you are also inspired by the bravery of Armstrong in the face of the intimidating force of cancer. Armstrong is a role model that I can identify with because he is so very human--he feels pain, he curses, he dislikes people, but he also loves his wife and son, he persists in a grueling sport, and he triumphs. He makes us all realize that life is valuable, and that happiness can be achieved.

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Summary: Didn't you learn anything??
Review: Lance, it's not about the bike. It's about generalizing your pain to other people, it is about tolerance, understanding, kindness, compassion, forgiveness. Unfortunately, you just didn't get it!

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Summary: Lance's Journey Was A Little Rough For Me
Review: By page 50 of this book I had already cried twice. Armstrong's reflections about his early beginnings in Texas were heartfelt, poignant, and it struck an empathetic cord with me. I think this is the strongest part of the book. Later, his riveting accounts of bike racing, especially the Tour de France, left me wanting more. Armstrong's precise descriptions of what it takes to rise above the grueling tedium of riding and how to learn the discipline made me admire him for his passion. However, I was a bit disappointed with the rest of the book. I was hoping for the moving and rewarding insights of a book such as Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther, instead I felt short changed. Armstrong's words to express things became more mechanical and almost third person. While I will credit him for his perseverance in fighting for his life, he seemed never seemed to give us the readers nothing much to go on. It never felt to me that while he was in treatment that he experienced a moment of truth. In fact sometimes I thought he was kind of belligerent to the medical staff. There didn't seem to be a change from pre-cancer Lance from post-cancer Lance. His recovery then seemed to play out like a movie of the week script -- starts foundation with rich Texan venture capitalist, beautiful rich girl finds boy superstar, have beautiful baby boy and live happily ever after in Santa Barbara. It just didn't seem real anymore to me. In fact he seemed a bit full of himself. Maybe what really happened to Lance was that he just grew up and was not a boy anymore. Nothing more.

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Summary: You MUST read this book!
Review: I am an avid runner and a recreational biker. I understand what it takes to train and to push when you really do not feel like it.

After reading this book, I was so inspired. The subject of the book makes you realize how precious every breath you take really is. This is an amazing story about an amazing man. I just kept saying over and over again, "How did he do this?" Where did he get the guts to come back from this? It is very hard to understand how the heck this man was able to come back and win the Tour de France after what he went through.

After reading the book I vowed never to complain about running in bad weather, or blow off a run when I didn't feel well.

It is truly a book you MUST read. It will help you in ways you never thought possible. This is not a story I will forget.

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Summary: A strong guy!
Review: Lance Armstrong was a very strong and intelligent guy. He was also a bicycle rider. He never gave up for anything, even though he got sick, and he stood to fight the disease. His cancer drove him crazy, and Lance beat it in his body. He was a cancer survivor, and he had a lot of energy to fight with it. Even though he hnew it was a strong disease, he wasn't scared of it, and he believed someday he will be healthy again, ride the bicycle, and do activities he did before.

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Summary: Don't Give up no matter what!
Review: I never knew about Lance Armstrong until I read his book. Lance survived cancer not because he was strong physically or spiritually, but because it was made to be so.

His book taught us how to fight the negativity in our lives. He fights the good fight and afterward the Light shines upon his head. Human beings don't like to suffer, but sometimes it's good to have this kind of experience.

I believe everyone of us experienced some kind of problem. If it's not sickness, it can be a friend or a member of your family who is trying to harm you. At this point, you need to have 1) faith, 2) self confidence, and 3) courage to face whatever obstacles that happen in life.

Lance is a world class champion in biking, but now he has become one of the best humanists in the world.

All human beings are scared of death. Who knows? Life might be better over there, where there is no jealousy, no envy, no enemy, no hatred.